Airbnb Superhost (1500+ Reviews) Offered Me Private Booking, Asked Me to Cancel Because of NSW Limitations on Short-Term Rentals

bigboysclub on 06/05/2022 - 17:17

Hi

I got a text message from my Airbnb host that they accidentally booked me in for a booking they can't do.

The host said that my booking exceeds the annual limit for short-term rentals in NSW because of a new law.

I think they are referring to this: "Day Limit: Hosted and unhosted STRA listings can operate all year round across NSW, except in Greater Sydney and nominated regional NSW local government areas where unhosted STRA listings are limited to 180 days per year. " (Source: https://www.airbnb.com.au/help/article/2922/new-south-wales)

They asked me to cancel the booking officially on Airbnb, but offered to hold the slot for me and offered me a private booking directly with them.

They are asking me to pay a deposit, and once I am satisfied with the property upon arriving, to pay the rest. The total amount would be slightly less than the actual total on Airbnb because they are removing the Airbnb fee.

I messaged the host directly on Airbnb and they confirmed that they did send this text to me and that it was authentic.

The Airbnb host is a superhost and has 1,500+ reviews, with an average 5 star review - so they look pretty legit, but I'm just worried about doing something off the books.

What do I do? I am aware that this is against Airbnb's code of conduct, but they are telling me this so last minute that I am unsure what else to book. I am mostly concerned about the issue of the deposit and how to secure this if it is not on Airbnb.

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Comments

  • 87percent on 06/05/2022 - 17:28

    Interesting.

  • PissLUR on 06/05/2022 - 17:29
    +7

    ask for more discounts.

  • elgrande on 06/05/2022 - 17:40
    +9

    They must be trustworthy - they are openly admitting to a stranger that they are breaking the law.

    • bigboysclub on 06/05/2022 - 21:53

      Yeah, I figure they have a lot more to lose than I do as a guest… still, feels a bit weird to do everything under the table.

  • HairyChickens on 06/05/2022 - 17:42
    +1

    Can you somehow use PayPal as an avenue for buyer protection?

    • bigboysclub on 06/05/2022 - 21:54

      That's a great idea - I'm not really sure how I can do this? Just transfer to their Paypal account and dispute it in case anything goes wrong?

  • Drakesy on 06/05/2022 - 18:03
    -2

    Stay there
    then report to NSW gov

  • AustriaBargain on 06/05/2022 - 18:12
    +5

    Something tells me that they didn't accidentally leave that house listed despite already exceeding their annual limit.

    • zonra on 06/05/2022 - 19:45
      +2

      Something also tells me that it wasn’t a coincident that they only discovered this so close to the date that it’d be hard for you to find alternative arrangements and more likely to deal with them off Airbnb. Maybe a legit offer, but pretty dodgy conduct.

  • Google Chrome on 06/05/2022 - 18:18
    +3

    Have been in this scenario before. Ask the host to cancel the booking on their end if you decide to deal with them directly.

    • bigboysclub on 06/05/2022 - 21:52

      Did you end up just bank transferring them and just trust it would work out?

      • Google Chrome on 06/05/2022 - 22:24
        +1

        Nah we sent them paypal transfer for the deposit - then bank transfer in person

        • bigboysclub on 07/05/2022 - 01:55

          How much of the total price did you transfer them as the deposit on Paypal? And when did you pay the rest? Wondering if I should do 1 day's rate as a deposit and the rest after the first day. Unsure how protected I am if I use Paypal.

  • lubos on 06/05/2022 - 19:21
    -1

    You can report them to Fair Trading. They could get banned to operate short-term rental for 5 years.

    Source: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/shor…

    • USER DC on 06/05/2022 - 22:29
      -8

      This is kinda a piece of shit, giving no regards to someone's genuine mistake. Stop making someone else's life difficult.

      • lubos on 06/05/2022 - 22:55
        +5

        Stop making someone else's life difficult.

        The rule is designed to make short-term rentals less profitable. If they are less profitable, more of them would be available for long-term rentals instead.

        If this person is banned from operating short-term rental because they are not operating within the rules, they will likely make the property available for long-term rental to get at least some income. This will improve rental affordability and availability in the area.

        • USER DC on 06/05/2022 - 23:02
          -6

          clearly the host is trying to abide by law by sending OP information that he did not knew and he had a mistake done.

          • lubos on 07/05/2022 - 06:46

            @USER DC: The host is still offering to lease the property beyond the limit imposed by local regulation.

          • ensanguined on 07/05/2022 - 12:57

            @USER DC: Found the host.

            • USER DC on 07/05/2022 - 14:29

              @ensanguined: HAHA who me? HAHA I wish I owned a property and that too in Sydney? would be so rich by now that wont be needing to come here, dude

              HAHA. Honestly speaking owing a home seems so so far away with current house prices, would really need record high interests rate hikes for the houses to be affordable to me again.

  • AustriaBargain on 06/05/2022 - 21:58

    1500+ reviewed bookings, average price of AirBNB in Sydney is $150 a night, that's like a quarter of a million dollars even if each booking was just for one night. If the average booking was four nights that's a million bucks. You'd think the owner would have made enough money by now.

    • Daabido on 07/05/2022 - 11:45

      How much money is enough for you?

      • AustriaBargain on 07/05/2022 - 13:03

        Half a million dollars, any more than that and I would have to donate every cent because it's just too much money to have per year.

  • Hugh G Rection on 06/05/2022 - 22:20
    +1

    watch your back and do everything through airbnb. if something goes wrong, airbnb can protect you.

    • metrosilver on 06/05/2022 - 22:51
      +2

      airbnb do nothing, had an issue where a house was reported as fully fenced dog proof. Get there and the fence was broken. Reported it and they pretty much just said talk to the owner nothing they can do no refunds or anything.

      • Hugh G Rection on 07/05/2022 - 10:06

        sorry to hear that, they must have changed then. it wasn't like that before. glad i never had any issues lately. perhaps they updated for house only like a broken door, bed, stove, etc…

  • USER DC on 06/05/2022 - 22:32
    +2

    If I was in your situation I'd personally ask for host to refund me in FULL no deposit, and offer me a future slot for a date that fits both of us in like 2-4 months time, and a discount on that, may be like 20% less price than originally payed, if he cannot give discounted priced. I'd like a compensation for cancellation in short notice to help me get in another airbnb location, like around 20% of original price payed.

  • orangetrain on 06/05/2022 - 23:04
    +2

    If someone asks you to cancel on an American website, they should do it themselves. You may be charged money if you cancel then you have to ask for the money back.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/05/2022 - 06:18

    I think it's pretty common, and safe, provided they have good feedback. I have used it overseas many times and a few times arranged a longer private stay between the host and myself. The law isn't just nor can it be effectively enforced, so it really comes down to being between you (the buyer) and the host (seller), this concern over rental market isn't your problem, or the host.

    Imagine allowing the government to dictate to you who and when you can lease your home.

  • Hardlyworkin on 07/05/2022 - 08:01
    +1

    Stay there, enjoy the discount. Win/win.

    If there is any problems then you know the location of the place.

  • 87percent on 07/05/2022 - 09:03

    Check if the house is available on any other sites, and get someone else to make a booking through that site and see if they do the same

  • holdenmg on 07/05/2022 - 14:16

    Hi,

    Is the 180 days cap in a Calendar year or a Financial Year?

    As it is only 7 May (day 127/365), I can't see how they are close to the cap, unless they have almost continuous occupancy.

    I guess they are trying to circumvent the cap or avoid fees.

    • sydney_kings on 21/06/2023 - 23:04

      Cap is based off 365 days (continuous) cycle, so they would've been booking out the place last year as well

  • Quantumcat on 07/05/2022 - 17:36

    The host's account might have been hacked and the hacker is trying to get cash out of everyone they had booked without the host knowing it (as they're not cancelling the booking).

    • kerfuffle on 10/04/2023 - 20:29

      Nice hiding of your spammy link

  • lilkid28 on 21/09/2023 - 16:49

    So what did OP end up doing?

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